Vacuum feed system



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1,582,628 E.Boss| VACUUM FEED SYSTEM FiledNQv.. 25, 1920 2 sheets-sheet 2 Patented nairain 27, i925.

ENEA BOSSI, OF NEV YC-RK, N. Y., ASSGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO STEWART WARNER SPEEDOMETER CSBIEDBATION, A CORPORATEON 0F VIRGINXA.

VACUUM FED SYSTEM.

Application led November 23, 1920. Serial No. 425,850.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that l, ENEA Bossi, a subject of the King of ltaly, and a resident of New York, in the county of New York, State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Vacuum Feed Systems, of which the following is a speciiication.

This invention relates broadly to feeds for hydrocarbon engines and more specially to a gasoline vacuum feed system.

The principal object ofthe present invention is to provide a vacuum feed system having balanced valve constructions in the vacuum line to permit efficient and accurate operation of the control valve.

Another object of the present invention is a vacuum feed device wherein a port area of the vacuum control valve is proportioned to the weight of the operating member therefor, to insure proper and correct operation of the valve.

A still further object of the present 1nvention is a vacuum feed device comprising a pair of cylindrical containers with'the axis of one container at substantially right angles to the axis of the other container.

Another object of the present invention is a vacuum feed device comprising an inner chamber and an outer chamber one of which is operatively connected with a .suitable source of supply and the other of which is connected with a suitable` gasoline engine and with open air vents provided in both of said chambers.

A still further object of the present invention is a vacuum feed system for hydro-v carbon engines or the like wherein a plurality of control means are provided for vhe vacuum line and loosely connected' freely movable float devices provided for operat ing said means.

A still further object of the present invention is a gasoline feed device comprising an inner cup-like chamber and an outer cylindrical chamber surrounding said inner chamber with a neck portion provided with a cylindrical space leading from the outer chamber and an air vent into said space and adjacent the upper end of both of said chambers.

Another object of the said invention is an air valve for a vacuum line constructed in such manner that a relatively light iioat member may be utilized t0 open the vacuum line when required.

A still further and important object of the present invention is a control valve for the vacuum line arranged adjacent an air cushion reservoir adapted to prevent undesirable movements of the valve due to surgelike impulses in the vacuum line produced by the action of the engine.

Another object of the present invention is a vacuum feed system, an outlet valve provided between the primary chamber with the axis of the valve conduit being substantially horizontal and with the valve seat being inclined to the axis in such manner that the opening of the valve tends to move the valve disk in an outward and upward direction. Another important object of the present invention is a. vacuum feed system comprising primary and secondary chambers with the secondary chamber surrounding the primary chamber and with a relief valve in the lower portion of the primary chamber l0-l cated in such manner as to be normally immersed in fluid thereby reducing the hydrostatic or fluid head on the primary side of the valve disk and also acting as a damper to prevent chattering of the valve disk on its seat.

Another object of the present invention is a vacuum feed device wherein a relatively long primary chamber is surrounded by a secondary chamber in such manner that the gasoline in the secondary chamber may immerse a relatively large portion of the primary chamber and whereby the valves controlling the primary chamber are adapted to be operated by a relatively small variation in pressure.

OtherA and further objects of the present invention will be pointed out in the specification hereinafter `following and will in part be obvious from the foregoing description of the device.

It is realized that the present invention may be embodied in constructions other than those specifically illustrated herewith, theretore, it is to be understood that the disclosure herewith is illustrative and not to be considered in the limiting sense.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification like characters are used to represent like parts throughout the several figures.

Figure l is a sectional view illustrating the arrangement ot parts.

Figure 2 is an enlarged detail view taken on line 2 2 Figure l.

Figure 3 is a sectional detail view taken on line 3*-3 Figure Figure il is a view similar to Figure 3 showing the valve parts in a different position.

Figure 5 is a side view of the device.

Heretoiiore in a vacuum feed system it has been customary to. provide a primary and a secondary chamber, with these chambers located one above the other in such manner that the iiuid in the secondary chamber did not tend to rise around the tiuid in the primary chamber. In these types ot construe tions the valve leading from the primary chamber was subjected to tluid pressure ot' one side onlv. Thus having' the eiect of producing unbalanced conditions ot the valve and the valve did not tend to seat easily under relatively low vacuum as was some times encountered in the primary chamber. Furthermore in the vacuum systems heretofore known in the art it is customary to provide a control valve tor the vacuum line which valve was adapted to be held closed by spring pressure controlled by a i'loat in the primary chamber and the suction ot the engine was also used in some constructions but the suction in most cases was .slightly intermittent and there was a liability7 oi' the valve opening at undesired times. To overcome this ditriculty it has been customary to provide springs and toggle constructions under control of float mechaism specied. These toggle constructions add complications which render the device liable to disorganization and also adds to the cost of n'ianu'facture, assembly, and adjustment. It has likewise been customary in the art to use air valves for ventingT primary chamber and such valves were operated in such manner that when the vacuum liuc was open the air valve would be closed and vice versa. In constructions of this character it the air valve failed to work the device did not operate satisfactory and since the air valve was onen and liable under road conditions to become clogged with dust it was not intrequent that the air valve failed to work on the road in the manner it operated in the laboratory.

The present invention overcomes the dililiculties ot the known art by providing an exceedingly simple construction in which a minimum number of working parts are utilized in carrying out the desired result. Preferably two sets of valves are utilized, one being a tloat operated control valve Vlor the vacuum line and the other beingst a lluid pressure operated valve 'for releasing the tiuid from the prnnary chamber. Other valves may be utiliyed in the ,lieve al lines as desire( but Y h valves are not a part ot the present invention. A. tui-ther ad.'antage over the known art is obtained by the prescnt invent-ion by the provisi-'m ol inierlitted primary and secondary chambers so constructed that the secondary chamber cncloffes the priinarv chamber. This economizes space and provides 'tor iinmerxing the out let valve from the primary chamber in the liquid in the secondary chamber and thereby causes the head oi the liquid in the secondary chamber to as closing the valve when a vacuum established within the primary chamber. vsefpiently the present de- -vice will operate properlyv under 'ai-ying vacuum conditions f i ice the limits ol require Drents or the device are small.

'ihn primary control valve preferably is a balanced type ot valve which is arranged adj cent a smali expansion chamber that abfliorbs variations in vacuum impulses in vacuum line and maintains substantialv uniform prtr eure on both :sides ot' the f'alve which are at right angles to the ot' movement ot the valve. since tl adapted to seat against one le o wall instead ot' having' the valve Feat. the airis of which is parallel to the axis oi :novernent ot the valve. Thisz permits the use ot a large vacuum conduit and a relatively light loat to open the valve lre'terably the control valve in the 'torni ot a doul le valve wherein the balanced valve specitied is supplemented by a ball 'alve which is efectivo to prevent the balanced valve from dropping away trom the valve seat when the vacuum is cut oli7 'trom thc primary chamber. The constrnctimr previousljv7 described ins'. otl positive opera-l tion ot the parts and especially adapts the device to be used on automobiles or the like having engines which run relatively 'tree vfrom vibration. ,fit the stanze time the dcvice is equally adaptal'ile tor use where great vibration is encountered. lloth the primar)v and secondarj. chanilz-ers in the present in vention open to atmosphere through small valveless vents in such manner that the secondary chan'rber continuallj.' tends to drain to the carburetor and the primary chamber ten ds to drain immediately a'iter the vacuum is cut ofi" Yfrom the chamber. Vfhile the, area et the .suction port suticient t',- hold the ball valve seated when dcsiredi this area ol suction or vacuum port is .so i ropertioned to the area oi" the inlet conduit port Yfrom the main gasoline tank that when a high vacuum occurs on thc suction line (las il T0 when the engine is idling) the tendency to quickly over-lill the primary chamber, andv draw gasoline directly through the vacuum line before the control valve is seated by the fioat, is obviated.

Referring now to the drawings ann more specially to Figure l the secondary casing which may comprise sheet metal member 2 having a flange 4 and a neck portion 5. A back plate 6 is adapted to extend ove1 and rest upon the flange 4 with the edge of the back plate spun over the edge of the flange as at 7 and with suitable eyelets 8 comprising rivet members for sealing the flange and the back plate and providing screw openings through which the device may be mounted as desired. tubular casing 9 terminating` in an annular bead 10. A primary chamber 11 may comprise a cup-like member hai/*ing an annular flange 12 adapted to be seated on the bead 19 of the secondary casing. This primary chamber 1l is provided with an Lshaped conduit 14 which is held in position by a threaded tubular stud 15 and the l -shaped conduit. is provided on the outer end with a 'downwardly and outwardly inclined valve seat 16. A suitable spider 17 is mounted adjacent the valve seat and a valve disk 18 is adapted to move back and forth between the spider and the valve seat to open and close the outlet of the conduit 14, as the device operates.

A cap member 19 is adapted to be held in place over the flange 12 of the primary chamber 11 by means of machine screws 2O which pass through the flange of the cap member and press the gasket 21 tightly against the flange 12 thereby providing a hermetic sealed joint. The cover member is arranged with a conduit 22 which is adapted to be connected to a gasoline tank or other suitable supply of liquid. This conduit 22 leads to a well 24 which is closed by a cap 25 held in position by a machine screw 26. The bottom of this well is covered by a screen 27 and is provided with a guide lip 28 which directs the flow of gasoline downwardly along the said wall to the primary chamber so that the gasoline does not strike the float with sufficient. force to seriously counteract the buoyancy thereof. The cap member 19 carries a controlr valve casing, the body 29 of which is provided with a conduit 30 adapted to be connected with the intake side, such as a manifold, of a gasoline engine, in order that the vacuum may be established in the conduit 30 when the engine is ruiming. This body member 29 is clamped in position on the cap 19 by means of a nut 31, so that the body member 29 may be rotated to a desired position and then clamped to the cap 19 to facilitate making connections with the conduits on Idifferent mountings. A cylindrical valve seat 32 is provided in the body The neck 5 is provided with a` portion 19 and a cylindrical valve v34 is adapted to cooperate with said seat.` This valve is mounted for radial longitudinal and rotative movement on the valve stem 35 which passes through the opening 36 which is considerably larger than the valve stein and the valve is retained in position on the valve stein by means of disk-like retaining members 87 which are spaced apart a distance greater than the length of the valve member.

Preferably this valve member is also provided with openings 38 which permit equalization of the fluid pressure on both sides of said valve member thereby providing a balanced valve. A guide cup 39 may be provided adjacent the upper end of the valve stem and where desired a stub 40 may be formed on the end of the stem. A cap 41 is seated over the guide stem and provides a small reservoir into which gas pressure may surge that would otherwise be effective upon the valve 84. This reservoir therefore has a stabilizing action on the operation of the device. A conduit 42 leads from beneath the valve 34 into the primary chamber and the lower end of this conduit preferably is formed into a conical valve seat as at 48 and is adapted to receive a ball valve 44 which may be used as a secondary valve to supplement the primary balanced valve 34. The valve stem 35 extends downwardly through a relatively large opening45 in a float bracket 46 which is secured to the float 4'?. The valve stem carries on its lower end a head 4S which is adapted to engage with the float bracket 46 and permits the weight of the float 47 to open the valve against the vacuum pressure effective upon the main control valve. The primary reservoir 11 is provided with a small vent 49 which is at all times maintained open to atmosphere. This vent is proportioned in area to the vacuum conduit 42 in such manner that under normal conditions suflicie-nt vacuum is maintained in the primary chamber to elevate the liquid or gasoline as is desired even though the vent 40 is fully open at all times. The secondary chamber 11 is also provided with a vent 50 which is likewise open to atmosphere at all times. This vent 50 is located in the tubular member 9 and leads to the annular space 51 formed between the member .9 and the side wall of the primary casing 11.

l? rom the foregoing description it will appear that when the vacuum is established in the conduits 30 and air will be exhausted from the primary reservoir, consequently air pressure will raise the gasoline or other liquid through conduit 22 and tend to fill the primary reservoir 1l. The weight of the control valve and valve stem is sufficient to retain the vacuum conduit open consequently as the gasoline or other liquid lills the prillO engages the conical valve vacuum is sutiicient to maintain the hall valve seated and the primary balance valve in likeivise moved to just close the vacuum line. 'there is a slight residual vacuum in the chamlfer formed lijf the cap l and this cient to hold the valves closed against v since the weighto't the valve parts is so proiliortioned as to insure this action.

`When occurs atmospheric pressure entering uch the vent 1l-9 causes the liquid press1 the prin'iary chainher to he. sutiiricnt to unseat the valve disk to; and pert the primary chamher to mit the lioiifd o enter into th secondrv cliamhcr which con- -e tioat -l-T descends suliicicntly tiniies until L se that' the l clct -tt encounters the head t9 on the valve stem 35. At vvhich time the lall valve ist is unse-ited aad the iveigrht ot the lialanee valve member and the hall valve meiiiher causes 'he control valve to open under torce oi gravity. The liquid in the secondaryv chainher is at all times under atmospheric pressure and may he drained hy @gravity to the carhuretor or other device. During normal operations ot the device the liquid in the secondary reservoir rises to a considerable height around the primary reservoir so that the valve disk 1S is normally iininerser and consequently vvhen the vacuum line is closed the hydrostatic height et the liquid in the secondary chamber is siilistaiitiallv eoualizced. rlhe liquid head in indai'y chainlrer` as soon as the pressure -.vithdra\vn trom the surface et the liquid in the primary chamber, causes the disk valve 18 to close. The arrangement of' the cliaiiihcrs in this con'ipact relation acilitates the operation ot the device and causes coneitioiis in the secondary chamber to control to a certain extent the operation ot the iloat in the primary chamber. his etticiencv ot the ivorking parts and ln .et the .vliolc ot the factors such as port areas. ivcieht ot parts and effective pres- .-.c-,res. as ahove explained are so counter-halaiiced and inter-related that all Work in harmony.

ln order that there may he no mistake concerning the application or the present invention as a gasoline feed for hydrocarhon engines, attention is directed to Figure ivherein a side vieiv ot the device is disclosed and diagrammatic connections are illustrated hetiveen the device and the main Acasoline tank A and the gasoline engine C. The main tank A should he vent-cd to atmosthe sec' l 'facilitates the operation et the device.

order to permit the gasoline in the tank to be easily vvithdraivn Without increasing the external pressure on the tank. Thel conduit of the device is connected hy av suitable conduit to the n'iani'told B of the gasoline engineI n and the secondary pliere in U7 casing 2 is connected by a suitahle conduit ivith the carburetor D.

lVhile a balanced and hall v lve arrangement is illustrated as controlling the suction line, it is to he understood that the primary purpose o't the secondary valve is to comprise a means whereby the suction may he regulated or reduced so that only a light Weight is required to Withdraw the hall valve, or an equivalent type ol' pruuai-yY valve from its sea. lhen the hall valve is withdrawn a sntlicicnt distance from the scat, the valve stein operates to ivithdraiv the slide valve. This then establishes a full vacuum through the conduit However. the hall or primary valve is a sui'iicient distance helow the seat so that the strong; suction does not tend to dranv the hall valve hack against the scat. By means ol this douhle control of the vacuum line it ivill he seen that a more positive operation oi the device is accomplished in that the tloat is proportioned to open the valve under an etfective pressure ivhich is much less than the actual pressure developed hy the suction because the valve heinga slide valve is not directly atlccted in its operation hy the direct action o't the suction, ivhercas the primary valve 'il is ail'ectcd in that the pressure established hy the vacuum is directed at rigrht angles to the scat on ivhich the primary valve rests. `While sp-ccitic constructions have been illustrated it is to he understood that any means accomplishing this end is within the scope ot the present invention.

Having hns described my invention, ivhat l claim is:

l. In a vacuum feed device the combination ot' a primary reservoir, a vacuum line. a control valve in the upper portion ot said priiiiaijv reservoir and adapted to control the vacuum line, said control valve comprising a plurality ot valve meinhers cliectivc to he sin'iultaneously operativ-e upon said vacuum line.

Q. ln a. vacuum 'feed device the comhination ot a primary reservoir, a vacuum line, a control valve in the upp-e portion ot said priinari. reservoir and adapted to control the vacuum line, said control valve comprising a cylindrical valve and a hall valve hoth ettcctive to he simultaneously operative upon said vacuum line.

ln a vacuum t'eed device the comliination ot a primary reservoir, a vacuum line` a control valve in the upper portion et said primary reservoir and adapted to control the vacuum line, said control valve comprising,` a plurality ot valve members ellective to be simultaneously operative upon said vacuum line and a float adapted to seat one of said valve members.

4. ln a vacuum feed device the combination of a primary reservoir, a vacuum line, a ycontrol valve in the upper portion of said primary reservoirv and adapted to control the vacuum line, said control valve comprising a cylindrical valve .and a ball valve both effective to be simultaneously operative upon said vacuum line and a float adapted to seat one of said valve members and the effective ,area of said last mentioned valve members being sum'cient to cause said valve to be held seated by suction.

5. A vacuum feed device comprising a reservoir, a conduit leading into said reservoir and being adapted to be connected With a supply of gasoline or the like, a second conduit also leading to said reservoir and being adapted to be connected with means for producing suction, a control valve coniprising a balanced valve and a ball valve both adapted to control the effect of said suction upon said reservoir, and means Within said reservoir and rendered operative by the height of the fluid therein to operate said control valve.

6. A vacuum feed device comprising a reservoir, conduit leading into said reservoir and being adaptedto be connected with a supp-ly of gasoline or the like., a second conduit also leading to 'said reservoir and being adapted to be connected with means for producing suction, said reservoir being vented to atmosphere at all times, a control valve comprising a balanced valve and a ball valve both adapted to control the effect of said suction upon said reservoir, and a float Within said reservoir operative by the height of the fluid therein, and a loose. connection between the float and the control valve to operate said control valve.

7. A vacuum feed device comprising` a primary reservoir, a secondary reservoir, said secondary reservoir, a conduit leading from said primary reservoir to said secondary reservoir, a valve apparatus to close said conduit, both of said reservoirs being provided With openings to atmosphere, a conduit leading to said primary reservoir and being adapted to be connected with a suction apparatus, a valve stem, a valve on said stem for controlling said vaccum conduit and mounted for radial movement on said valve stem, and float operative means for operating said valve.

8. A vacuum feed device comprising a primary reservoir, a secondary reservoir, said secondary reservoir surrounding` and enclosinO said primary reservoir, a conduit leading` from said primary reservoir to said secondary reservoir, a valve apparatus to close said conduit, both of said reservoirs being provided with openings to atmosphere, a conduit leading to said primary re'servoir and being adapted to be connected With a suction apparatus, a valve for controlling said vacuum conduit and float operative means for operating said valve, said valve comprising' a cylinder With a valve seat on the side Wall thereof and With an opening ext-ending through the cylinder from end to end.V p

9. A vacuum feed device` comprising a primary reservoir, a` secondary re's'egrvfoir, said secondary reservoir surrounding and enclosing said primary reservoir, a conduit leading from said primary reservoir to said secondary reservoir, a disk valve to close said conduit, the axis of the valve seat being inclined to the horizontal, both of said reservoirs being provided with openings to atmosphere, a conduit leading to said primary reservoir and being adapt-ed to be connected with a suction apparatus, a valve stem, a balanced slide on said stem for controlling said vacuum conduit and mounted for radial movement on said valve stem, said valve comprising a. cylinder With a valve seat on the said Wall thereof and With an opening extending through the cylinder from end to end, and float operative. means for opera-ting said valve.

l0. A casing for a vacuum feed device comprising a cylindrical body portion having` a flange on one edge thereof, a back plate secured to said body portion adjacent said flange, and a cylindrical neck extending from said body portion, the axis of the cylindrical neck being at substantially right angles to the axis of the cylindrical body porti-on.

ll. A casing for a vacuum feed device comprising a cylindrical body portion having a. flange on one edge there-of, a back plate secured to said body portion adjacent said flange, the edge of the back plate being spun over the edge of said flange, eyelet members extending through said back plate and said flange, and a cylindrical neck extending froin said body portion.

l2. A vacuum feed system comprising a chamber adapted to receive liquid, a conduit connected to said chamber and leading to a suitable supply of liquid, a second com duit adapted to be connected with means for producing a suction, and a plurality of valve members simultaneously operative for controlling said suction.

13. ln a vacuum feed system or the like, a vacuum conduit, an intermittently operated control valve adapted to be retained in closed relation by differential pressure establishded by suction and means for controlling the suction in such mann-er as to maintain a lesser degree of suction in the conduit adjacent said valve when the valve is seated and to permit full suction to be effected in said conduit when the valveopen.

1d. In a vacuum feed system or the like, a vac-num conduit, a reservoir, an intermittently operated control valve adapted to be retained in closed relation by dill-erential pressures established by suction means ior controlling the suction in the conduit leading to the control valve in `such manner as to maintain a lesser degree of suction in conduit adjacent said valve when the. valve is seated and to permit Jull suction to be ell'ected in said conduit when the valve open, and a float in said reservoir to operate said means.

15. In a vacuum system or the like, a suit able reservoir, a vacuum conduit connected to said reservoir, a valve operative in said vacuum conduit in such lmanner that difierential pressures established by the vacuum in said conduit are adapted to retain said valve seated to close the conduit, and means for reducing; the effective vacuum on said valve when said valve is seated.

16. In a vacuum system or the like, a suitable reservoir, a vacuum conduit connected to said reservoir, a valve operative in said vacuum conduit in such manner that dilllerential pressures established by the vacuum in said conduit are adapted to retain said valve seated to close the conduit, means for reducing the ell'ective vacuum on said valve When said valve is seated, and float means to seat and unseat said valve.

17. In a vacuum feed system or the like. a reservoir, a vacuum conduit leading to said reservoir, a valve adapted to close said conduit and with the valve arranged to be held seated by dililerential pressure establisl by the suction through said conduit, a cha ber adjacent said valve and cominnnicati with said conduit, and means adapted to cu oli' the suction from said chamber When said valve is closed.

18. In a vacuum feed system or the like, a reservoir, a vacuum conduit leading' to said 'esel-voir, a valve adapted to elose said conduit and with the valve arranged to be held seated by differential pressures established bj; the suction through said conduit, a chamber adjacent said valve and communi |atingr v-:ith said conduit, and means adapted to cut oli' the suction from said chamber when said valve is closed and to retain the suction cut oli' until after said valve is opened.

19. In vacuum feed system or the like, a servoir, a vacuum conduit leadingi to said servoir, a valve adapted to close said conduit and ivith the valve arranged to be held V:eated by dilllerential pressures established 5y the suction through said conduit, and means adapted to reduce the eli'ect ot the suction upon said valve when said valve is closed.

2U. In a vacuum feed system or the like, a ervoir7 a. vacuum conduitl leading' to said 'vit and with the valve arranged to be held ited by dilierential pressures established said conduit, and means adapted to rece the suction from said chamber ivhen 1. valve closed and to retain the suction lured until after said valve is opened.

In a vacuum teed system or the like` a reservoir, a vacuum conduitl leadingy to saitl reservoir. a valve tor closing said vacuum conduit vfith reference to said reservoir, a l .oer adjacent said valve and connected to s id vacuum conduit and to the conduit ingr to the seat. ior said valve. and means 'for reducingl the ell'eet ot the vacuum produced in said conduit when said valve is closed. A

Q2. In a vacuum l'eed system or the like. a reservoir. a vacuum feed conduit operatively connected with said reservoir. valve in the 

